Autographic register



New. 25, 1952 w, METZNER 2,619,365

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Aug. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O INVENTOR AZfif/FT W METZ/VE/P XTT FiN 153 Nov. 25, 1952 A. METZNER AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Aug. 28, 1950 iilllll/Iv/III/IIZ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AZBf/PT W MfTZ/fE/P Nov, 25, 952 A. w. METZNER 2,619,365

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Aug. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 89 Z? 5 I INVENTOR 9' ALfiF/FT WMFTZ/VER Patented Nov. 25, 1952 AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER Albert W. Metzner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application August 28, 1950, Serial No. 181,751

20 Claims.

This invention relates to autographic registers and like devices, utilizing carbon paper to transfer to underlying copies a written impression made upon the topmost or original of a set of forms.

' unused. In effect, therefore, a considerable part of the carbon paper heretofore used has been wasted.

It is an object of this invention to obviate such wastage by applying in an autographic register the principle of a carbon ribbon which is continuously renewed in the writing areas and which is re-usable, if desired.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate in an autographic register, a carbon ribbon device adjustable over the writing table to locate the carbon ribbon selectively in correspondence with the selection of a writing area.

A further object of the invention is to include in the carbon ribbon device a hand rest shield of transparent material, the shield serving as a means for moving the device and as a protective cover for the forms.

Still another object of the invention is to define in the shield a window opening compelling the writing upon the forms to occur in the area traversed by the carbon ribbon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for automatic carbon ribbon feed and ribbon reverse.

Still another object of the invention is to provide control mechanisms operating in conjunction with the carbon ribbon device to preclude movement of the forms and operation of the form feeding apparatus except when the carbon ribbon device is in a home station.

A further object of the invention is to provide an autographic register possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the ing drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is found the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an autographic register in accordance with the instant invention, the lid of the register being broken away to disclose the writing table, with forms thereon, and the carbon ribbon device; I

Fig. 2 is a view of the register in side elevation, the housing being partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of the ribbon reverse mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a bearing for the carbon ribbon device;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the interleavingof the carbon ribbon with the forms;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the register with the Writing table removed; I

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the rack and gear connection for actuating the ribbon feed mechanism; and I Fig. 8 is a detail View of a lock for the crank arm.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, an autographic register of the classto which this invention relates comprises a generally rectangular housing, the open top of which is closed by a lid I 2. Within the housing H, at the rear thereof is defined a compartment l3 for the storage of a pack of forms Id. The forms are made up of superposed continuous strips of series connected detachable forms, each set of forms comprising an original and one or more copies as may be desired. In preparing the machine for use, the leading edge of the continuous strip of forms I4 is brought up over a guide l5 onto a writin table I 6 and pulled forward to underly a tear bar l1, thus presenting a first set of forms in recording position.

The table it is supported at the top of the housing ll, its back end being pivotally connected to brackets I 8 on the side walls of the housing and its forward end resting on a cross bar I9 extending between the side walls of the housing. The tear bar I! extends in transverse overlying relation to the table I 6 and is pivotally mounted through arms 2| on the bar l9. In a manner which it is unnecessary here to describe, the tear bar I! is raised and lowered in timed relation to the advancement of the forms so as not to interfere with the ejection of a finished set of forms but to rest on the table and allow an ejected set of forms, or a part thereof, to be torn from the continuous strip. 'Under the control of a flutter plate 22, the ejection of a set of forms may be controlled, as for example to issue the original and one copy out of the machine and to direct the remaining copies into a compartment 23 within the front of the housing II.

The advancement or feeding of the forms is accomplished by a pair of pin wheels 24, secured to a shaft 25 journaled between the side walls of housing ll beneath the table IS. The pins on the wheels 24 project upward through slots 26 in the table 16 to engage in marginal perforations 21 in the forms I4. One end of the shaft 25 extends outside the housing II and hasfastened thereto a crank arm 28 provided witha handle 29. According to the construction and arrangement of the parts, a predetermined degree or rotation of the crank arm 29, for example a full 360 turn thereof, will eject one setof forms from recording position and bring the next succeeding set of forms into recording position.

In accordance with the instant invention, an autographic register of the kind described, further comprises a carbon ribbon carrier 3| mounted on-the writing table l6 for relative longitudinal sliding motion. The structure of the carrier 31 includes a pair of side plates 32 and 33, one on each side of the table 16, rigidly interconnected by spaced apart cross rods 34 and 35 beneath the writing table. The plates 32 and 33, and the' respective assemblies of which they are a part, are substantially the same so that a description of one will suffice for both. Thus, the upper edge ofeach plate 32 and 33 is turned over to project as a flange 36 over the side edge of the table l6. Carried by the side plate, immediately beneath the flangev 36 is apair of longitudinally spaced anti-friction rollers 31 engaging the side edge of the table IS. The rollers 31 provide for easy sliding movement of the carrier 3! and at the same time, as seen in Fig. 4, hold the side plates 32 and 33 and their flanges 36 from frictional contact with the writing table.

Mounted on each plate 32 and 33 for relative rotary motion is a carbon ribbon spool 38, there being a carbon ribbon 39 wound thereon and intercomiecting the respective spools by extending across and above the table [6. In the illustrated instance, the ribbon39 is made of ordinary carbon paper about one inch wide. Also it is wound in multiple thickness in correspondence with the number of'copies in each set of forms 14. It will be'understood that in setting up the ma-- chine for operation, the ribbon 39 is interleaved with the forms I4 so that an impression made on the top or original form is transmitted to all of the underlying copies. Spiral guides 41 on each side plate 32 and 33 lead the ribbon across the plate [6 in flat, adjacent relation thereto.

A hand rest or shield 42 made of transparent plastic or like material is fastened to the flanges 36 of the plates 32 and 33 in such position as to overlie the table l6 and the forms thereon. An elongated transverse opening 43 in the rest 42 is aligned with the carbon ribbon 38. A home station for the carrier 3| is defined, by complementary abutting portions (not shown) on the carrier and writing table, in which position the window opening 43 in the hand rest 42 exposes the first line or lines of the form. By combining. a downward and rearward'pressure of the hand onrest 42, the operator may move the carrier 3i to selected positions out of home station, writing in such selected positions on the lines-or areas of the form exposed by the window opening 43. When the form has been traversed and filled out, as desired, the carrier 3| is returned to home station and a new set of forms advanced into recording position.

The invention contemplates intermittent feeding of the carbon ribbon 39 so that the portion of the ribbon actually in use may be continuously changed or renewed. In accordance with this construction and mode of operation, each carbon ribbon spool 38 has secured thereto a gear 44 meshing with a pinion 45. The pinion 45 is fast on a stub shaft 46 which extends through the side plate 32 or 33 into the area beneath the writing table IS. The respective stub shafts 46 are aligned with one another and have secured to their inner ends toothed clutch members 41.

Disposed between the stub shafts 46, and axially aligned therewith, is a shaft 48. The shaft 48 is supported for relative axial and rotatin movements in bearing blocks 49 connected across the cross rods 34 and 35. On each end ofthe shaft 48 is a clutch member 5| having one or more driving. teeth 52 engageable with the teeth on a respective clutch member 41. Through axial adjustment of the shaft 48 the clutch connections represented by members 41 and 5i are alternatively engageable and disengageable. Thus, axial adjustment of the shaft 48 in one direction serves to connect the shaft 48 to one of the stub shafts 46 and to disconnect it from the other, while adjustment in the opposite direction serves to reverse the connection. Accordingly, the spools 38 are alternatively responsive to rotation of the shaft 48 in order that the carbon ribbon 39 may travel in one direction until it is substantially unwound from one spool, and then be reversed in its direction for re-use.

Rotation of the shaft 48 is effected by a rack and gear connection, including a rack 53 mounted longitudinally on the underside of the writing table l6 and a gear 54 loosely mounted on the shaft 48. The rack 53 is relatively broad to engage the gear 54 throughout the limited range of axial movement of the shaft 48. On one side of the gear 54, on shaft 48, is a collar 55 made fast on shaft 48 to preclude relative axial motion of the gear 54 in one direction. On the other side of the gear 54, and secured to or made integral with the gear, is a collar 56 engageable with a toothed sleeve 51. The sleeve 51 is connected to the shaft 48 by a pin-in-slot connection 58-59 which constrains the sleeve to rotate with the shaft but permits the sleeve limited relative axial motion. A compression spring 6| is seated on a collar 62 fast on shaft 48 and urges the sleeve 51 in a direction to engage it with the collar 56 on gear 54. The engaging faces of the collar 56 and sleeve 51 are serrated so as to make of these members a one-way clutch. Thus, in one direction of rotation of the gear 54, the collar 56 and sleeve 51 are positively locked together with the result that shaft 48 rotates with the gear 54. In the other direction of rotation of the gear, the teeth on collar 56 ride over the teeth or sleeve 51, with the sleeve yielding axially so that the motion of gear 54 is independent of shaft 48.

The collar 62 has a peripherally toothed portion 63 engaged by a spring arm 64 fastened to the cross-bar 35. Through the cooperation of collar 6263 and arm 64, the tendency of the sleeve 51 to follow the independent or overrunning motion of gear 54 is overcome. Conventionally, as in the illustrated instance, the parts will be arranged so that the gear 54 drive shaft 48 during the return motion of the carrier 3! to home station.

'13 secured to the shaft 88. formed, on one side thereof, with a cam surface To effect reversal of the direction of feeding of the ribbon 39, the shaft 48 may be shifted manually to the different axial position of adjustment before described. The invention contemplates, however, an automatic ribbon reverse action. This mechanism comprises a pair of feeler fingers 65, one for each spool 38, pivotally mounted at their one ends on studs 99 set in the side plates 32 and 33. The opposite or outer end of each finger extends toward cooperative engagement with the roll of ribbon 39 on the spool 38. A link 6'! connects each finger 65 to a lever 68 pivotally mounted on the side plate, the lever 58 being on the inner face of the side plate and connected to the link 61 through an arcuate opening 69. The lever 68 supports laterally projecting studs II to which is secured a plate 12 extending toward cooperative relation with a collar Each collar 73 is 14. Motion of the surface It across the end of plate 72 results in a camming action resolved into an axial shifting motion of the shaft 48.

In the operation of th automatic shaft mechanism, a coil spring acting on one of the studs 1| urges the described linkage in a direction to cause the feeler fingers 65 to engage their respective roll of ribbon on the spools 39 and to cause the plates 12 to approach the shaft 98 and collars 13 thereon. During the operation, as the ribbon is wound on one spool and unwound from the'other, there is an opposite direction of motion of the respective fingers 65. Thus, the decreasing diameter of one ribbon roll is reflected in a clockwise direction of motion of its associated finger 65 (as seen in Fig. 2), resulting in an approaching motion of the connected plate 12 toward its associated collar 13. The other ribbon roll is at the same time increasing in diameter, causing its associated finger 95 to move in a counterclockwise direction, resulting in a withdrawing motion of the connected plate '12 with respect to its associated collar '53. At a predetermined point in the approaching motion of a plate 12, it is engaged by the cam surface F9 on collar conjunction with the carrier 3|, provide for holding the forms It against movement and for latching the feed crank 29, except when the carrier 3| is in its home station. In the former connection, there is pivotally carried on the underside of the table It, adjacent each side edge thereof, a bellcrank lever 78. The levers 18 are located near the back end of the table E6, in positions underlying the marginal perforations 2'! in the forms It. On one end of each latch 38 is a pin 19 while to the other end is connected a spring 8| anchored to the plate It. Under the influence of the springs 8|, the levers are urged in a direction to engage the pins '39 in corresponding aligned perforation 21 in the forms Hi. When so engaged, the pins preclude any following motion of the forms which might tend to take place during sliding movement of the carrier 3|. The release of the levers T8 is accomplished by pro- "jections 82 on the carrier side plates 32 and 33 -having lugs 83 thereon to engage the downwardly extending arms on the levers 18. According to the construction and arrangement of parts, the

lugs 83 engage the levers 18 as the carrier 3| approaches home station and as the carrier reaches home station rocks the levers in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), withdrawing pins 19 from the forms 4.

In connection with the latching of the feed crank 28, the crank handle 29 is reciprocable on a bushing 84 (Fig. 6) secured to the crank 28. A plunger 85 slidable in the bushing 84 is extensible by inward motion of the handle 29 through an opening in the crank 28 and into engagement with a pin 86 carried by the housing land a bracket 81 secured thereto. The outer end of the pin 86 serves as an abutment, being engageable by a lug 88 on the crank arm 28 to prevent operation of the arm. A spring 89 on the pin 86 holds the pin in latching position with respect to the lug 88. Upon inward motion of the handle 29, however, the plunger 85 engages and shifts the pin 86 inward out of the plane of lug 88, releasing the crank for operation. Motion of the pin 86 is controlled by a slide 92, the forward end of which lies in the plane of movement of the pin in position to prevent its actuation by plunger 85. An opening 93 in the slide 92, when aligned with the pin 86, permits axial motion of the pin to disabled position with respect to the lug 88.

The slide 92 is mounted for limited longitudinal motion on end brackets 94 and 95 attached to housing A spring 96 is arranged to urge the slide 92 in a right hand direction, as seen in Fig. 2, or in a direction to shift opening 93 out of alignment with the pin 86. A stud 91 (Fig. 2) on the slide is engageable by the side plate 32 of carrier 3| to move the slide to a position aligning opening 93 with pin 86 as the carrier reaches home station. Accordingly, the crank arm 28 is locked against operation except when the carbon ribbon carrier is in home station.

As shown in Fig. 8, the bracket 8'! also provides support for another pin 98' which is engageable by another lug 99 on the crank arm 28. The arrangement of pin 99 and lug 99 is such as to prevent a reverse direction of movement of the crank.

The operation of the register will be substantially self evident from the preceding description. Briefly, however, the carbon ribbon carrier 3| normally occupies its home position, with the window opening 93 in hand rest 42 registering with the first lines of entry on the forms I4. Moreover, at this time, the carrier holds levers i8 and slide 92 actuated, releasing the forms for advancement and releasing the form feed mechanism for operation. Having made his initial entries, the operator moves the carrier rearward along the writing table, bringing the window opening 53 successively to the places on the forms where he desires to make further entries. At the start of such movement out of home position, the carrier 3| releases levers 78 and slide 92 which, under the influence of their respective springs, assume positions blocking movement of the forms and preventing operation of the form advancing means. Further, in the course of rearward motion of the carrier, the gear 54 is driven by the rack 53 but rotates idly by reason of the one way clutch represented by 54 being now reversed, a positive driving connection is established from the gear to shaft 48 and thence to one or the other of the carbon ribbon spools 38 depending upon the axial position of adjustment of the shaft. In the course of return motion of the carrier 3|, therefore, the carbon ribbon 39 is advanced to bring a new portion of carbon under the window opening 42. As the carrier reaches home position, the levers 18 and slide 92 are actuated as before described, whereupon the operator may advance a new set of forms into recording position, conditioning the register for the next recording and carbon feeding operation.

The carbon ribbon will continue through successiveoperations to be fed from one spool to another. On the spool from which the ribbon is being withdrawn, the feeler finger 65 follows the decreasing diameter of the ribbon roll and effects a corresponding motion of the associated plate 12 towards the cam collar 13. At a predetermined point in the inward travel of finger B and plate 12, the latter is engaged by the cam collar 13 as it rotates with shaft 48. Then in the course of further rotation of the shaft 48, collar 13 and plate 12 cooperate to compel an axialshifting of the shaft reversing the driving connection between the shaft and the spools 38 and correspondingly reversing the direction of motion of the carbon ribbon.

It will be understood that the ribbon reverse mechanism may be dispensed with if it is desired to use the carbon ribbon but once. In this event duplicate spool mechanisms would be unnecessary, as the fresh carbon could be drawn from a folded supply thereof or the like.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a shield movable longitudinally over said table and presenting an opening to be selectively located with respect to said forms, a carbon strip carried by said shield and extending transversely beneath said opening, and strip feed devices operated in esponse to motion of said shield.

2. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, means relatively slidable longitudinally of said table, and a carbon strip carried by said slidable means in transverse relation to said table and interleaved with said forms.

3. An autographic register according to claim 2, characterized in that said relatively slidable means includes a shield overlying said table and presenting a transversely elongated opening aligned with said carbon ribbon.

4. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, means relatively slidable longitudinally of said table and having a home station with respect to the recording position of said forms, a carbon strip carried by said slidable means in transverse relation to said table and interleaved with said forms, carbon strip feed devices, and complementary parts on said table and on said slidable means for operating said feed devices.

5. An autographic register, according to claim 4, characterized by clutch means rendering said feed devices operative only during motion of said slidable means in one direction.

6. An autographic register including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon carrier mounted on said table for relative longitudinal sliding motion, said carrier having a home station with respect to the recording position of said forms, and a locking device for said form advancing means disabled and enabled by motion of said carrier respectively into and out of its home station.

'7. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon carrier mounted on said table for relative longitudinal sliding motion, said carrier having a home station with respect to the recording position of said forms, and a detent normally preventing movement of said forms disabled by said carrier in its home station.

8. An autographic register including a writing table, means for advancing continuous marginally punched forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon carrier mounted on said table for relative longitudinal sliding motion, said carrier having a home station with respect to the recording position of said forms, a spring biased pin normally engaged within a marginal punching in said forms to prevent movement of the forms, and means operable by said carrier as it enters home station to withdraw said pin and so release the forms.

9. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon carrier mounted on said table for relative longitudinal sliding movement, said carrier having a home station with respect to the recording position of said forms, a locking device for said form advancing means disabled and enabled by motion of said carrier respectively into and out of its home station, and a detent normally preventing movement of said forms disabled by said carrier in its home station.

10. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon carrier mounted on said table for relative longitudinal sliding motion, the carbon being arranged on said carrier to extend transversely across said table in interleaved relation to said forms, carbon feed devices operating in response to motion of said carrier to move the carbon relative to the carrier, and a one-Way clutch in said feed devices providing for movement of the carbon ribbon during only one direction of movement of the carrier.

11. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon ribbon carrier mounted on said table for relative longitudinal sliding motion, rotatable carbon ribbon spools mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of said table, a carbon ribbon wound on said spools and extending transversely across said table in interleaved relation to the forms and a rack and gear connection between said table and said carrier for rotating said spools.

12. An autographic register according to claim 11, characterized by a one-way clutch between said rack and gear connection and said spools operative to permit advancement of the carbon ribbon during only one direction of movement of the carrier.

13. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon ribbon carrier mounted for longitudinal sliding motion relative to said table, rotatable carbon ribbon spools mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of said table, a carbon ribbon wound on said spools and extending transversely across said table in interleaved relation to the forms, a rotatable shaft extending in underlying transverse relation to said table means for rotating said shaft in response to one direction of motion of said carrier, and means for establishing an alternative driving connection of said shaft with said spools.

14. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon ribbon carrier mounted for longitudinal sliding motion relative to said table, rotatable carbon ribbon spools mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of said table, a carbon ribbon wound on said spools and extending transversely across said table in interleaved relation to the forms, and a hand rest forming a part of said carrier extending in transverse overlying relation to said table and presenting a transversely elongated opening aligned with said carbon ribbon.

15. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon strip carrier mounted for longitudinal sliding motion relative to said table, rotatable carbon rolls mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of said table, a carbon strip wound on said rolls and extending transversely across said table in interleaved relation with said forms, devices operated by movement of said carrier in one direction to feed said carbon strip, and a strip reverse mechanism, including follower arms associated with each said rolls.

16. An autographic register, including a writ ing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a carbon strip carrier mounted for longitudinal sliding motion relative to said table, rotatable carbon rolls mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of said table, a carbon strip wound on said rolls and extending transversely across said table in interleaved relation with said forms, a shaft extending in underlying transverse relation to said table and mounted for rotary and limited axial motion, a rack on the underside of said table perpendicular to said shaft, a gear rotatably mounted on said shaft and meshing with said rack within the range of limited axial motion of said shaft, a driving connection including a one- 10 way clutch between said gear and said shaft, clutch devices on the ends of said shaft alternatively engageable with respective rolls by axial adjustment of said shaft, and means for axially adjusting said shaft.

17. An autographic register according to claim 16, characterized in that said last named means includes cam and follower devices associated with each said roll.

18. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, a shield movable longitudinally over said table and presenting an opening to be selectively located with respect to said forms, a carbon strip carried by said shield and extending transversely beneath said opening, and interengaging relatively movable strip feed devices on said shield and on said table operated in response to movement of said shield to advance said strip.

19. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table, means relatively slidable longitudinally of said table and having a home station with respect to the recording position of said forms, a carbon strip carried by said slidable means in transverse relation to said table and interleaved with said forms, interengaging relatively movable parts on said table and on said slidable means, carbon strip advancing devices, and a connection between said interengaging parts and said devices to effect advancement of said strip during movement of said slidable means.

20. An autographic register, including a writing table, means for advancing continuous forms to and from a recording position on said table,

a carbon ribbon carrier mounted on said table a for relative longitudinal sliding motion, the carbon being arranged on said carrier to extend transversely across said table in interleaved relation to said forms, rotatable devices on said carrier receiving the respective ends of said carbon ribbon, interengaging relatively movable parts on said table and said carrier, a connection between said interengaging parts and said rotatable devices to effect motion of said devices and thereby advance said carbon strip in response to longitudinal sliding motion of said carrier, and a one-way clutch in said connection providing for movement of the carbon ribbon during only one direction of movement of the carrier.

ALBERT W. METZNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 672,363 Haywood Apr. 16, 1901 1,925,258 Kinzer Sept. 5, 1933 2,163,684 Holmes et al June 27, 1939 2,314,371 Sherman et al Mar. 23, 1943 2,331,336 Metzner Oct. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 812,950 France g Feb. 15, 1937 

